Anti-Diabetic Drug, Exercise and Healthy Diet for Knee Osteoarthritis With Overweight/Obesity

Unhealthy diet (high fat, sugar) and physical inactivity result in overweight/obesity, which is the major cause of knee osteoarthritis (KOA). KOA further leads to increased intake of comfort food (unhealthy diet) and reduced exercise due to knee pain, forming a vicious cycle. Overweight and obesity are the main risk factors for the major non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like diabetes, etc. which are additional exacerbating factors for KOA. Compared to other NCDs, KOA is more painful and disabling and therefore it commonly leads to early medical consultation for an obese individual. This provides a unique therapeutic opportunity to conduct weight control intervention and lifestyle modification when they are referred for management and waiting for total knee replacement (TKR). Achieving weight control can reduce their subsequent risk of development of other NCDs which lead to increased mortality, and potentially improve their osteoarthritic symptoms, and potentially avoid TKR.

Overweight and Obesity is defined as body mass index (BMI) exceeding 23 and 25 kg/m2 in Hong Kong respectively. Principal applicant (PA) reviewed the BMI of all KOA patients that subsequently had TKR in our hospitals and found the average BMI were 27.72 (2005-2009), 27.78 (2010-2015), and 28.07 (2016-2021) with the number of obese patients increased more than 6 times in 2016-2021 compared to 2005-2009. 73.74% of them were in obese class I and II in 2016- 2021, compared to just 33% of the whole Hong Kong population (same age group) were in these two classes (Based on Department of Health Population Health Survey). Obesity is disproportionally prevalent among KOA patients in Hong Kong with a worsening trend.

Studies and our pilot have found obese KOA patients have more medical comorbidities, with higher prevalence of metabolic syndrome, with more hypertension, dyslipidemia and impaired fasting glucose/diabetes. They are also associated with higher risks of cardiovascular disease, myocardial infarction, and stroke. Obesity is associated with greater pain while waiting for surgery but also with higher chances of developing various perioperative problems, such as surgical site infections, acute kidney injury, increased narcotics consumption, etc. compared to non-obese patients. Therefore, weight loss interventions for KOA are being explored recently to reduce the requirement of TKR, improve the health of KOA subjects, and improve the outcome if TKRs are eventually performed.

Diet modification to achieve weight loss with exercise therapy have been reported reducing KOA pain and improving physical function like walking distance and stair-climb time, compared to control in RCT (ADAPT trial). And it has been showed combining dietary weight loss and exercise can achieve better pain relief and joint loading than either dietary weight loss or exercise alone (Intensive Diet and Exercise for Arthritis (IDEA) trial). Despite these encouraging results, follow-up study at 3.5 years after initial intervention found participants experienced weight regain and reduced pain relief, suggesting difficulty in maintaining long-term weight loss. This matched our published Mendelian Randomization Study which found high BMI contributes to KOA more than effect of dietary intake.

Metformin, an oral anti-diabetic medication, is considered safe, affordable, and well-tolerated. It has been shown to promote weight loss and is a cost-effective option for long-term use on a large scale. Combining metformin with exercise and a balanced diet has been found to be more effective than using metformin alone. Metformin acts on pathways that are also involved in exercise, helping to reduce feelings of hunger and combat obesity. Additionally, metformin has anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving effects that can benefit individuals with osteoarthritis. Moreover, metformin has been shown to enhance muscle quality and reduce the process of muscle aging.

However, current trials using metformin on KOA did not (1) conduct with diet modification nor exercise therapy, (2) assess muscle improvement, (3) assess reduce in TKR, (4) effects of stopping metformin after changes are achieved.

Overall, metformin may accentuate effect of diet modification and exercise as they may be less reliant on comfort food and could perform exercise better (less hunger/pain/body weight and better muscle). This potentially break the vicious cycle of unhealthy diet/physical inactivity- obesity-osteoarthritis.

Trial objectives and Purpose The aim of the study is to determine metformin on top of exercise therapy and diet modification on reducing knee pain (VAS) over 6 months and increasing opt-out preference of joint replacement waiting list.

Hypothesis It is hypothesized that comparing with placebo, metformin will (1) reduce knee pain (primary outcome), (2) reduce body weight and (3) reduce the need of joint replacement.

Study design This is a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial in patient with symptomatic knee OA and overweight or obesity, to determine metformin on top of exercise therapy and diet modification on reducing knee pain (VAS) over 6 months and increasing opt-out preference of joint replacement waiting list. Participants will undergo screening and follow-up at an Orthopaedic clinic, receive diet counseling and a structured exercise program, and then be randomly assigned to either metformin or a placebo for 6 months. Subsequently, there will be a 6-month period without medication, during which outcomes will be measured.

Study procedures:

Patients will be screened and followed up in Orthopaedic clinic, completing questionnaires, X-ray, blood glucose level test and blood tests, with blinded research assistants (RA) performing all measurements. Intervention will be started after initial screening confirming eligibility and consent signed.

Intervention:

All participants will undergo a modified Structured Nonsurgical Treatment Programme (SNTP) of Hospital Authority (HA) that references the IDEA trial. In this modified programme, both intervention and control group will receive diet counselling from dietitians with goal of achieving weight loss of 10% baseline body weight and initial diet plan of energy- intake deficit of 800-1000 kcals/day with minimal 1100 kcal for women and 1200 kcal for men and the calorie distribution goal following the Dietary Reference Intakes for Energy and Macronutrients and previous weight loss trials. Their body weight will be monitored during their scheduled nutrition counselling sessions with dietitians. They will also have exercise program with physiotherapists that are facility-based followed by home-based, and the standardized program consisting of an aerobic session (e.g. 15 min aerobic walking), a strength training session (20 min), a second aerobic session (15 min), and a cool-down session (10 min). The strength-training phase is designed to avoid any possible loss of muscle and bone mass resulting from dietary weight loss.

All patient will be prescribed with a standard dose of regular paracetamol and low dose non- steroid anti-inflammatory drugs instructed to be taken on as needed basis as painkillers, same as current normal practice for these patients.

While on diet modification and exercise therapy, patients will be randomly allocated to receive metformin (max: 500mgx4=2000mg daily)(intervention group) or placebos daily (control group). The placebos will be manufactured with Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standard such that each placebo pill will look like metformin pill (500mg). Both groups will start with an initial dose of 500mg daily and the dose will be gradually titrated to 2000mg daily in 6 weeks to allow patients adopting to the gastrointestinal symptoms. Both groups shall be put on metformin or placebo for 6months and then both groups will stop their respective medications and continue on diet modification and exercise therapy only. The 6month medication period is based on several factors: Previous trials showing significant weight loss could be achieved by metformin with this timing and further extending the period may not produce much more weight reduction; 3-6months of metformin were showed to reduce arthritis pain; 4months of metformin improved handgrip strength, gait speed, and SPPB (muscle function/sarcopenia parameters); Importantly, a further 6 month period without medication will tell if continuing metformin is needed to maintain its benefit in weight reduction and pain relief. Therefore, this trial the investigators plan for 6months with medication followed by 6months without medication with outcome measurement.

Randomization and blinding:

Patients will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to either group by computer generated sequence with block randomization. Allocation concealment and double blinding will be performed by: (1) medications being dispensed by centralized pharmacy only; (2) use of an identical placebo tablet, with scheduled gradual titration; (3) both groups will receive diet modification and exercise therapy such that patients, dietitians and physiotherapists will be blinded to group allocation; and (4) measurement by RA blinded to group allocation. Patients and assessors will be blinded to group allocation.

Safety:

Metformin has a well-known good drug safety profile as registered with the Drug Office, Department of Health. The investigators shall outline all potential adverse reactions in informed consent from common ones like nausea, abdominal pain, etc. to rare like lactic acidosis, etc. and these shall be regularly monitored and any of these will be reported to the ethic committee and funding body. They are closely monitored as they will be seen weekly during the 6-week drug titration, monthly clinic/phone follow-up, and assessment at 0, 3, 6, 12 months, as well as regular encounter with physiotherapists and dietitians.